Senator John Campbell told the Health & Human Services Committee Senate Bill 1608 would require medical examinations for patients admitted to inpatient psychiatric facilities to be performed in person, not by telehealth.

Campbell described cases in which physical conditions (thyroid disorder, vitamin deficiencies, brain tumor, diabetic complications) were discovered only after an in-person exam and said in-person exams are important for patient safety. He said the current bill is a refile from last session and was previously approved 27–3 in committee.

Representatives of the Texas Hospital Association and private psychiatric providers testified in opposition: Steve Wolop of the Texas Hospital Association said the existing statute (section 572.0025) permits exams by audio-visual telecommunication when necessary, and that telehealth plays a small but vital role when on-site physicians are unavailable (weekends, covering physicians out sick). Wolop warned a strict in-person requirement could prevent facilities from admitting patients when they lack on-site physician coverage within 24 hours. Heather Vosick, representing Oceans Healthcare, said some rural freestanding psychiatric hospitals rely on telemedicine within the first hour of presentation and that in some cities they are the only psychiatric facility; she urged more conversation about practical exceptions. Lee Spiller of Citizens Commission on Human Rights and advocate Sheila Hemphill testified in favor of the bill, citing patient-safety and patient-rights concerns.

Christie Carr, associate commissioner for state hospitals at HHSC, told the committee that HHSC state hospitals do perform physical exams on admission in person and within 24 hours. Committee members exchanged questions about whether an exam done in an originating emergency room within 72 hours prior to admission would satisfy the requirement; witnesses said current regulations permit an exam conducted within 72 hours prior to admission to satisfy requirements in some cases. The committee closed public testimony and left the bill pending.